Make a Nine Patch Quilt Square

Quilting - An Old Art Making a Big Comeback

Quilting isn't nearly as difficult as you might think. It is easy to learn how to make a quilt. It is an old art that many younger women are taking up today in an effort to keep the old craft alive. Quilting is a wonderful way to commemorate an event, such as a birth, or to repurpose old clothing in a way that offers you a sentimental keepsake. Quilts used to be given on major events, such as a wedding, or the birth f a baby. Today that tradition is reviving.

Easy Blocks to Learn How to Quilt

One of the simplest and easiest of the kinds of quilt blocks that you can create is the nine patch. Nine patch quilt pieces are often used to create full sized quilts. They are also used to make place mats and even to create tote bags and other crafts that are wearable or usable around the house.

It's very common to look for something to keep you busy on a long trip. Are you looking for a craft that is easy to carry along and work on during long trips? One answer is the 9 patch quilt, made of blocks with 9 small squares of material. The quilt has a number of blocks placed in an orderly fashion on a piece of solid color material. Use designs and colors to create a diverse variety of blocks. The fabrics used to piece the quilt together do not need to match.

• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing needle, thread and scissors
• Straight pins and quilting safety pins
• 1 square yard of a solid color piece of preshrunk, washable fleece material
• 1 yard of washable material with a pattern, such as flowers or stars (A)
• 1 yard of washable material with a different pattern, such as stripes or *plaids (B)
• Sewing machine or sharp needle and thread
• A 4 x 4 inch template ( an exact square which is 4 inches by 4 inches)

1. 1
   Start small to get familiar with this process by making a 36 x 36 inch quilt for a doll or the family furry friend.

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2. 2
   Cut selections A and B into 4 nine-inch strips lengthwise.

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3. 3
   Put the 4 strips of A one on top of another for cutting

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   Use the template to cut the 3 x 3 inch squares. You will need 123 squares. Cut extras to use for other quilting projects.

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4. 4
   Repeat the process with B

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   You will need 120 squares for this project. The next step is dividing the squares into their blocking pattern.

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5. 5
   Make 5 stacks, each with 5 squares of A and 4 squares of B

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   The completed blocks will be the top and bottom side blocks and the center block.

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6. 6
   Make 4 stacks, each with 5 squares of B and 4 squares of A

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   The completed blocks will be the center top and bottom blocks and the left and right side blocks in the middle.

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7. 7
   Lay out the first block vertically, ABA, BAB and ABA

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   Place B face down on the front of one of the As and pin it. Use the needle and thread to baste 1/4 inch from the top, and tie off the thread. Now place the unused A face down on B and pin it. Baste and tie off. The next set of blocks has A in the center. Then repeat the final ABA. Remove the pins.

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8. 8
   Now use your sewing machine to stitch across the basted areas, using the thread as a guide

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   You can remove the basting or leave it for extra hold. You now have 3 completed strips for the first block.

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9. 9
   Use the iron to press the seams either towards the darker color, or by pressing them open.

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10. 10
    Put strip BAB face down on one of the ABA strips

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    Pin and baste with the same 1/4 inch seam. Place the other ABA strip face down on the BAB strip and repeat. Remove the pins and stitch with the machine. Press out the seams.

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11. 11
    Make a 1/4 inch basted hem around the quilt square.

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12. 12
    Continue with the other blocks until they are completed

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    Use quilting safety pins to hold the blocks on the fleece, following the pattern as described in steps 5 and 6. Hand stitch or embroidery stitch the 9 square blocks on to the fabric or use the machine. Congratulations! You've created a beautiful quilt.

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Do you have ideas for re-purposing old quilt squares?

I tried to fix up an antique quilt but it fell apart anyway but I want to think of a way to still use the pretty vintage quilt squares.. I have tried: Nothing yet. Looking for a creative suggestion.. I think it was caused by: The quilt was very old and difficult to repair but the fabric that is left is beautiful.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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